Free Miscellaneous Topics in Chicago

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  • Domestic Violence: Treating the Abuser

    Rob Johnson, LCPC, Crossroads Counseling of Chicago

    It is not widely recognized that the perpetrators of domestic violence need help. In Partner Abuse Intervention, participants learn skills for handling conflict. Rob will discuss the background, curriculum and outcome of this intervention.

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  • It’s OK to place your loved one in Senior Living

    Julianne Rizzo, RN, MBA, Certified Senior Advisor, Oasis Senior Advisors

    This presentation is meant to help loved ones deal with the guilt of placing a loved one in Senior Living. It's important to understand that it is okay to move your loved one to a new home and to empathize with your loved one’s emotions. In this presentation Julianne teaches that there are a variety of different senior living options that meet multiple needs; and she goes over the strategies to consider the options.
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  • Solving Climate Change with a Solution We Can All Like

    Mike Zanillo, Illinois State Coordinator, Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL)

    **** COVID-19 Note - Available as Virtual Session via Zoom **** Climate Change has been called ’NOT the BIGGEST challenge of OUR time, but, the BIGGEST challenge of ALL time’. The topic can be confusing to many. Often, there is uncertainty of what Climate Change is, what are its effects and what can be done about it. MORE >

    In today’s media-rich environment, many policy issues are in the news, but, often not at a significant level of depth. One of the topics of growing interest to many engaged groups is the topic of Climate Change. The discussion related to Climate Change can be confusing to many. Often, there is uncertainty of what Climate Change is, what are its effects and what can be done about it.

    The Citizens Climate Lobby, is a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization that provides presentations to groups such as Rotary Clubs, League of Women Voters, college clubs and other local groups

    The presentation will educate, enable, and entertain your group members. The presentation can include short videos, slides, stories and time for audience questions. While the length of the presentation is at your discretion, the following topics will be covered.

    Learn about a simple, comprehensive, Climate Solution that is:
    - Rapidly growing in public, bi-partisan support
    - Endorsed by 27 Nobel economics laureates
    - Many view as the most effective climate policy
    - Will speed a transition to renewable energy
    - Considered as being a fair and just policy
    - Provides for economic growth and jobs

    After participating in our meetings, participants often feel more informed, energized and hopeful for a future stable climate. There will be no solicitation of donations or attempts to sell anything.

    Please contact me if you would like to discuss this opportunity for a presentation of this timely topic.

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  • Measuring Results From Training

    Bette Lawrence-Water, Founder and Principal Consultant, Spectrum Strategic Solutions

    Although we all know that training can have many amazing benefits, sometimes it can be hard to prove those benefits and attach a dollar value to training. Some topics, like sales training or time management, might have direct, tangible benefits. Other topics, like communication or leadership, might have benefits that you can’t put a dollar value on. MORE >

    Through this discussion participants will learn about the different ways to evaluate training progress, and how to use those results to demonstrate the results that training brings. Once the training has been evaluated the next step is to modify and updated the curriculum to create a content that is better suited for the participants.

    Presentation Objectives:
    • Understand learning styles and learning cycle
    • Understand levels of evaluation
    • Be familiar with many types of evaluation tools, including goal setting, tests, reactionary sheets, interviews, observations, hip-pocket assessments, skill assessments, and learning journals
    • Understand when to use each type of evaluation tool
    • Be able to perform a needs assessment
    • Know how to write learning objectives and link them to evaluation
    • Be able to write an evaluation plan to evaluate learning at each stage of the training and far beyond
    • Know how to identify the costs, benefits, and return on investment of training
    • Be familiar with the parts of a business case

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  • Theology & Spirituality

    Dr. Cliff Brickman, Doctor, Therapist, Researcher, Wellness Clinic, The Still Soft Voice

    Dr. Brickman will discuss the religious topics covered in media like FoxTV, such as “to be religious, you must be judgmental,” “how many religions will kill you if you leave it?” and “as Americans with our PC, and our priorities, we should all have our heads examined.”

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  • Your Brain is Lying to You!

    Roger Breisch, Speaker / Provocateur, Dancing With Chaos

    In her highly acclaimed book, Being Wrong: Adventures in the margin of error, Kathryn Schulz says “As far as we know, then, error is uniquely ours. Our fallibility is what keeps us suspended between the kingdom of lessor animals and the kingdom of God.” MORE >

    How might we be different in the world if we knew a large percentage of what we think we “know” is wrong… or at least off kilter? If we entered the world each day with the understanding there is much to learn and revise about our current thinking, might we be more curious? Better listeners?

    The human brain is a pattern making marvel, but the stories we make up based on those patterns are often wrong. We do this every day when we make up stories about others based on very little knowledge of who they really are. Might we find people are far more interesting than our first impressions leave us to believe?

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  • Injuries on the Job: Navigating a Complicated Illinois Workers’ Compensation System

    Paul Byck, Lawyer / Partner, Kreiter, Byck and Associates, LLC

    Many who suffer work related injuries have no idea what their rights are. Even worse, because of their vulnerability, they rely on the assistance of insurance adjusters - the very people whose job it is to deny or limit their benefits. There are many risks with this approach that could be detrimental to the injured party's claim. MORE >

    The lecture will focus on how to navigate a complicated workers' compensation system in Illinois, and the risks associated with trusting insurance companies to do the right thing. It will include common requests by insurance adjusters that seem harmless, but can have real consequences. The lecture will also emphasize the importance of managing a claim proactively.

    This lecture should interest any person, group or profession that is at high risk of suffering work injuries.

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  • Unintended Impact: One Athlete’s Journey from Concussions an Amateur Football to CTE Dementia

    Jim Proebstle, Author

    Tragic CTE Dementia Outcome from Concussions in Amateur Football Inspires a New Book: As an athlete, Dick was revered; yet, success turned traitor as the concussions received in high school and Big Ten (MSU) football led to a world of confusion, poor decision-making, and confinement defined by a wheelchair in a long-term care facility. In his multiple levels of impaired functioning, the opportunity for Dick to “get it”—life, that is—was over. He just didn’t know it. Dick was my brother. MORE >

    Nobody will remember a backup college quarterback, but Dick’s story bridges the glamour of NFL football—its high-profile athletes and its $billion settlement for players with CTE dementia—and the millions of anonymous amateur football players who may suffer with the same concussion-induced devastation of CTE dementia. Unintended Impact covers the drama from childhood to adulthood, including numerous personal and business episodes that serve as warnings that something had been derailed. In 2015, with today’s focus on CTE, lack of knowledge is not acceptable. Yet in Dick’s life, lack of knowledge was just one of the underlying factors contributing to the heartbreak of his tragedy. How many other Dick Proebstles are there?
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